[27] The tour commenced at the Royal Albert Hall on 1 May 2011 for two special charity performances (benefiting Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research), titled Anthems: The Concert, where Ellis was supported by the City of London Philharmonic, The West End Chorus, performer Adam Pascal and electronic string quartet Escala. Although a relative unknown and in a small part, Ellis met positive reviews for her performance: a critic labelled her stronger than Menzel who attained the female lead and argued that Ellis should have received it instead. Among other participants from the London theatre community, Ellis additionally lent her voice to "inspirational" videos that were released upon to video-sharing website YouTube for the "It Gets Better" campaign a project created by columnist Dan Savage in response to school bullying and a rash of suicides among young LGBT people aiming to "provide hope to youth struggling with their identity." Ellis started rehearsals while still touring with Miss Saigon,[33] and rehearsed for four weeks with the company before beginning the role of Fantine on 27 June 2005 at the Queen's Theatre alongside John Owen-Jones, Shonagh Daly, Shaun Escoffery and Hayden Tee. Kerry had at least 1 relationship in the past. She probably showed me up" while Ellis concluded, "I was nervous but once I was on stage the nerves disappeared and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. See FameChain's massive Trump family tree. She has released three studio albums Anthems (2010), which reached number 15 on the UK Albums Chart, the self-titled Kerry Ellis (2014) and "Golden Days" as well as an extended play Wicked in Rock (2008) and a live album Acoustic by Candlelight (2013). In an interview in retrospect, Les Misrables producer Cameron Mackintosh professed that Ellis made an "outstanding" Fantine in addition to admitting his pleasure at seeing Ellis' career grow through roles in three of his productions and naming her a "great talent.". Explore how the celebrity world connects. "[79] Ellis paired with Brian May and singer Irene Fornaciari at the 2012 Sanremo Music Festival on the songs "I (Who Have Nothing)" and "We Will Rock You" in February. "I have particularly fond memories of this, my first West End show, and the experience I gained from the cast and creatives was fantastic," she reflected. The album peaked at number 15 on the UK Albums Chart. Polls 5 Aug 2013", "Kerry Ellis joins all-star line up at Royal Variety Performance 2008", "London Wicked Star Kerry Ellis Will Sing "Great British Songbook", "Wicked's Kerry Ellis talks about performing the Great British Songbook at the Shaw theatre", "Theatre review: Kerry Ellis Celebrates the Great British Song Book", "Perfect Pitch Returns to West End, Ellis at Fringe", "Thank You for the Music: A Celebration of the Music of Abba, review", "Broadway & West End Star Kerry Ellis to play 'Nancy', "Kerry Ellis and Brian May perform spine-tingling rendition of Anthem", "Sir Terry Wogan presents West End phenomenon Kerry Ellis and legendary Queen guitarist Brian May", "Festival of Remembrance 2010 The Royal British Legion", "Voices Sing for Sondheim, New York Xmas Cast", "West End Theatre Folk Release "It Gets Better" Video", "NT Scoops Seven Oliviers, Blonde & Sondheim", "Kerry Ellis lined up to judge Stephen Sondheim Society award", "BBC Concert Orchestra Friday Night is Music Night", "What's On? Which was the childhood home to Her Majesty, Elizabeth The Queen Mother. She was only a couple of years ahead of me and I could relate to her. Kerry Ellis's net worth They are lodged in between the two big well-known generations, the Baby Boomers and the Millennials. [21][45] Ellis also represented the musical at the annual Royal Variety Performance in 2008 where she performed her rock version of the Wicked song "Defying Gravity" alongside Brian May on guitar at the London Palladium.[49]. The least compatible signs with Taurus are generally considered to be Leo and Aquarius. The sold-out performance at The O2 Arena was recorded and was released in cinemas in April and will be on DVD in November. In July 2006, Ellis joined the original London cast of the musical Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre to play Elphaba, the misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West, however she was not permanent at that time and serving as a temporary standby to Idina Menzel for three months from the show's opening on 27 September 2006. Also known as. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can She played Elphaba, the green-faced witch in Wicked both in the West End and on Broadway from 2007-2009, before taking over the role of Nancy in the revival of Lionel Barts Oliver at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2010. [UpdatedNovember 2022] Networth Mask. and Cats as well as appearing in national tours and concert productions of musicals like Miss Saigon, Chess, The War of the Worlds, RENT, and Anything Goes. She was scared and excited but enjoyed it," said agent Greatorex with first understudy Jay adding, "She was fantastic. Ellis also launched a Pledge page, with a variety of VIP packages and Ellis gifts to try to fund her new album. Because we only have a set amount of money we have to be very disciplined and go into the studio, get it down and get out. The show saw Ellis giving a blind audition in front of its four coaches. Editors' Code of Practice. Ellis gave birth to a baby boy Alfie Ellis-Townsend on 25 October 2013. In 2002, she landed the role of Meat in the original London cast of We Will Rock You and has subsequently played lead roles in musicals Les Misrables, Wicked (in the West End and on Broadway), Oliver! The same month, the pair performed at the Make-A-Wish Foundation Winter Ball at The Dorchester in London. Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. Playing alongside Kendra Kassebaum as Glinda and Aaron Tveit as Fiyero for her five-month run, Ellis won the 2009 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Female Breakthrough Performance. The musical initially played at the Lyttelton Theatre at the Royal National Theatre from 6 March 2001 to 20 June 2001 but later transferred to Theatre Royal, Drury Lane with shows beginning 21 July 2001. The same month, she flew to Shanghai to participate in a string of concerts entitled Ultimate Broadway at the city's Culture Square Theatre. "From the moment I first heard Kerry sing, I was entranced, and felt the conviction that I would one day make an album for her. Born in 25 Jun 1919 and died in 3 Jul 2000 Red Bay, Alabama James Ellis Townsend Following her departure from Wicked, she recorded material with Brian May for her debut album and performed at various live events including her first set of solo musical showcase concerts entitled Kerry Ellis Sings the Great British Songbook at the Shaw Theatre on Euston Road in London. Ellis paired with Brian May and singer Irene Fornaciari at the 2012 Sanremo Music Festival on the songs "I (Who Have Nothing)" and "We Will Rock You" in February. The 43-year-old American was born in the Year of the Goat and is part of Generation X. Kerry Elliss birth sign is Taurus and she has a ruling planet of Venus. "[77] Her name later trended on social networking site Twitter.[78]. This was made available as a deluxe 2-CD set and to download. Ellis continued her theatrical endeavours, playing Eva Cassidy in a 2004 workshop production of Way Beyond Blue, a Trevor Nunn-directed and Imogen Stubbs-written piece, in addition to being cast as Ellen in a UK tour of Miss Saigon, again pairing with producer Cameron Mackintosh. Kerry Ellis' husband James Townsend with their son Alfie. Ellis will also perform at A Night at the Musicals when it returns to the Wales Millennium Centre as well as appearing as a special guest in a Christmas Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall in December. Ethel was born on April 2 1893, in Bollinger Co, Missouri. In May, she judged in the 2011 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year competition in addition to performing "Cabaret" and "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" at the Mermaid Theatre as part of the BBC Radio 2 special Friday Night is Music Night in a special concert celebrating the music of the BBC's radio programme Desert Island Discs and appearing at gay nightclub Cruz 101 to perform "Love It When You Call", "Somebody to Love" and the remixed version of her rock version of the song "Defying Gravity" in celebration of the club's 19th birthday.[69][70][71]. In May, she led her own solo concert, entitled Kerry Ellis in Concert, at the London Palladium for one night only with various special guests including Brian May and West End performers, in addition to performing at the Guildford School of Acting choir's concert with Ruthie Henshall, returning to West End Eurovision to present the West End Wilma Volunteer Of The Year award and also headlining the 9th annual Spotlight Ball. Following her graduation, Ellis became first understudy to Marti Webb in a UK concert tour of The Magic of the Musicals in 1998, required on several occasions in Webb's absence, yet took a hiatus in 1999 to board cruise ship MS Voyager of the Seas, employed as lead vocalist in the ship's entertainment staff. Particularly interested in working with her musically, May partnered with Ellis during her time in We Will Rock You to lay the foundations of her musical career. [82], Other performances in 2013 include her leading a week of cabaret shows at The Pheasantry in London in February and at Tiger Tracks, a three-week tiger conservation event, performing a free outdoor charity gig at St Pancras railway station with Brian May in March. In 2017, Ellis starred as Alice in the UK tour of Wonderland. Tags: The pair then took The Born Free Tour to mainland Europe in July in addition to performing at the 47th Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland followed by a performance at the 2013 Guitare en scne festival 2013 in the east of France. The tour will be a similar show to the one I did at the Palladium and will allow everyone who couldnt get tickets for that one-off show to hear these amazing songs. Despite professing he prefers other contemporary musical theatre actresses, "I can't deny the power and following she clearly has." Of her "eclectic set" with "velvety rich distinctive vocals," a critic professed, "Ellis is as sexy as any other female pop star out there today and she sings like a true diva," and concluded, "She may have left Oz for good but there is no place like home and for Kerry Ellis that home is most definitely the stage.". In May, she led her own solo concert, entitled Kerry Ellis in Concert, at the London Palladium for one night only with various special guests including Brian May and West End performers,[83] in addition to performing at the Guildford School of Acting choir's concert with Ruthie Henshall, returning to West End Eurovision to present the West End Wilma Volunteer of the Year award and also headlining the 9th annual Spotlight Ball. Her new album, Kerry Ellis was released on 14 September 2014. James Townsend's wife is Kerry Ellis. The same month, she closed the 2012 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards with May and also performed with him at the launch of Pride of Cape Town in South Africa in March. In August, she kicked off the 20th English Premier League for the FA Community Shield by performing the British national anthem at Wembley Stadium and also became a patron to Emil Dale's School of Performing Arts in Hitchin while September saw her performing at the opening launch concert of the new Diamond Theatre in Slovenia and returning to London's Savoy to sing at the 65th birthday celebrations of Freddie Mercury. Were very lucky that we have a great support system thanks to both of our families and thats working fine touch wood we just work on a little less sleep.. The whole Palladium experience was terrific because it had a real family feel to the evening. "[32], Following this, Ellis got the role of Fantine in the West End production of Les Misrables. She worked in the film production of My Fair Lady from 1998 to 2002. Ellis sang "Defying Gravity" as the finale of Musicals: The Greatest Show, a socially distanced show with no audience, performed at the London Palladium, broadcast on BBC1 on 7 February 2021. [7][8][9] After a successful audition, she also spent the summer of 1990 with the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT). Ellis first played Nancy on 29 March 2010 to positive reviews, starring alongside Griff Rhys Jones (and later Russ Abbot) as Fagin and Steven Hartley as Bill Sikes. Actresses; . , money, salary, income, and assets. I dont know where we would be without both of our parents, Kerry says. "It was an incredible three years where I learnt a great deal about myself, the industry and came away feeling part of something special," she remembers. Alongside touring theatres across the UK with Miss Saigon, Ellis rehearsed for the lead role of Fantine in the West End production of Les Misrables shortly prior to the end of Miss Saigon's run, prematurely disembarking on 9 June 2005. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. You can create your album and be yourself without having to fit into their preconceived idea of what you should be like. Born and raised in Suffolk, Ellis began performing at an early age before training at Laine Theatre Arts from the age of 16. Kerry was born in the 1970s. [12] It includes both original songs, songs from musicals and concerts in which she has been involved as well as new arrangements of personal favourites. Award-winning theater actress and musician who has performed in classic shows like Oliver! Born and raised in Suffolk, Ellis began performing at an early age before training at Laine Theatre Arts from the age of 16. Kerry Ellis was married in 2011 to James Townsend. In June, she performed in front of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the naming ceremony of the newest addition of the P&O Princess Cruises' fleet, Royal Princess, before going back on the road to do a second leg of The Born Free Tour in the UK and Ireland with Brian May.[84]. Check back often as we will continue to update this page with new relationship details. She sang "Son of a Preacher Man" but it failed to progress her further after none of the coaches turned round to select her to be in their groups. Kerry Ellis is famous for being a Stage Actress. [26][27] After seven auditions, she landed the role of Meat and got to sing the solo song "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)". Kerry Jane Ellis. The same month, she flew to Florence in Italy to perform with Italian Queen tribute band Killer Queen, but returned to England to sing with Brian May at concert titled Rock Against Cancer in Devizes. April saw Ellis became a patron alongside Bonnie Langford to Guildford's Performance Preparation Academy (PPA). But surely, Brian May will be adding some of his distinctive guitar to a couple of tracks? When Im in the studio, hes happy watching me and being taken care of in the control room. Much of their lives are pre-planned Kerrys diary is booked up months in advance, sometimes a year, and husband James Townsend is a football coach for Luton Town and so his life follows the football season. She sang "Son of a Preacher Man" but it failed to progress her further after none of the coaches turned round to select her to be in their groups. I can't fault that, all I can fault is myself for not turning around. She played a limited 12-week engagement from 4 August 2014 through 25 October 2014. She was born on May 6, 1979 at Haughley, Suffolk, England. Kerry Ellis has not been previously engaged. She is English by nationality. In October West-End star Kerry Ellis returns to Suffolk to kick-off her autumn tour armed with a new album and a new baby. May stated that "[Kerry and I]'ve created [] a style that defines a new form of music a kind of anthemic-orchestral-rock-musical-theatre fusion," while Ellis remarked, "I think [Anthems has] got a touch of camp to it, really. (Image: Archant). After leaving the show, she performed in a concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar as the female lead, Mary Magdalene, at Porchester Castle in June 2004 alongside other West End performers and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. She is Theatre (Actress) by profession. She also performed with John Barrowman at the 2009 Henley Festival (which was later broadcast on BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night), at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and at Thank You for the Music a special concert in Hyde Park celebrating the music of Benny Andersson and Bjrn Ulvaeus (of ABBA) in September 2009 where she delivered the first UK performance of "You Have to Be There", a song from the pair's musical Kristina frn Duvemla. Anglesey, Natalie (4 May 2011). "[80] June also saw her being filmed at Pinewood Studios for the film adaptation of the musical Les Misrables (2012), where she plays an uncredited wench in the "Master of the House" number which features Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. In May, she judged in the 2011 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year competition in addition to performing "Cabaret" and "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" at the Mermaid Theatre as part of the BBC Radio 2 special Friday Night is Music Night in a special concert celebrating the music of the BBC's radio programme Desert Island Discs and appearing at gay nightclub Cruz 101 to perform "Love It When You Call", "Somebody to Love" and the remixed version of her rock version of the song "Defying Gravity" in celebration of the club's 19th birthday. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Her return to the stage for the first time almost a year, Ellis replaced Jodie Prenger in the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh's London revival of Oliver! Female. Alfie Ellis-Townsend (25/10/2013) She also mentored potential candidates in Over the Rainbow (2010), BBC's subsequent talent show that searched for a Dorothy Gale for the 2011 musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. [24][25], "Kerry [had] been in rehearsals throughout the run but she didn't find out until late afternoon that she was going on. Bi for Blanchett Ellis-Townsend Baby #2. In August, she kicked off the 20th English Premier League for the FA Community Shield by performing the British national anthem at Wembley Stadium and also became a patron to Emil Dale's School of Performing Arts in Hitchin while September saw her performing at the opening launch concert of the new Diamond Theatre in Slovenia and returning to London's Savoy to sing at the 65th birthday celebrations of Freddie Mercury. It was important not just in the type of show it was but also in getting my face known. Joined by May once again, Ellis performed at The Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in the presence of the British Royal Family including Queen Elizabeth II. In support of Anthems, Ellis and May embarked on her first headlining concert tour of Great Britain, titled Anthems: The Tour. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. [3], Kerry Jane Ellis was born on 6 May 1979 in Haughley,[4] near Stowmarket, in Suffolk, the daughter of Sandra Ann Reed and Terry John Ellis. See the Elon Musk family tree here at FameChain. Ellis, who has received several awards and nominations for her performances, has become recognised as the First Lady of West End musicals. (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals), which will be released in time for Christmas 2013. She played the role of Svetlana and upon reflection, stated that to star at the Royal Albert Hall, work with an "amazing" company and sing alongside those particular cast members "was a dream come true." "[14], Whilst attending Stowmarket High School, she completed work experience with Starmakers, a company of holiday entertainers, at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton-on-Sea. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. With Brian May, she accepted an invitation to fly a training sortie with the Red Arrows on 16 June: Ellis on Red 1 with Squadron Leader Ben Murphy (the leader of the Red Arrows) while May flew on Red 7 with Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank. The same month, she closed the 2012 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards with May and also performed with him at the launch of Pride of Cape Town in South Africa in March. There will be a number of duets and collaborations on the album but she doesnt want to name names and tempt fate because no-one has signed on the dotted line yet. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Kerry Ellis father's name is under review and mother unknown at this time. She stated that working with May, Elton and Roger Taylor was "a great step forward" in her professional career; calling her journey "breath-taking."[21]. [48], Ellis cited the role of Elphaba as the "most challenging [that she had] ever undertaken" stating that it was "a massive journey" to go on at every performance and admits that Wicked "changed [her] life" in terms of boosting her recognition within the entertainment industry. [5][6] Describing herself as a hyperactive young girl, she attended dance classes at the Ann Holland School of Theatre Dance and performed in local shows and pantomimes whilst also enjoying swimming and horse-riding. One of Taurus's best qualities is being a good companion. A Gannett Company. In October, she performed at Inspiration Awards for Women at Cadogan Hall, London. Your IP: Dating & Relationship status He is currently single. . [58] Ellis first played Nancy on 29 March 2010 to positive reviews, starring alongside Griff Rhys Jones (and later Russ Abbot) as Fagin and Steven Hartley as Bill Sikes. In addition to switching on the lights with Wicked's composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz at the Empire State Building to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the musical on Broadway, Ellis performed at Broadway on Broadway in Times Square, recorded a song titled "Behind these Walls" for Scott Alan's album Keys and released her first extended play (EP) Wicked in Rock during her time in New York. [citation needed] In April, she returned to the After Show with David Bedella at the Alleycat in London's Soho to chat with David Bedella. Ellis will also perform at A Night at the Musicals when it returns to the Wales Millennium Centre as well as appearing as a special guest in a Christmas Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall in December. Mary Townsend+ b. c 1701. "It was an incredible three years where I learnt a great deal about myself, the industry and came away feeling part of something special," she remembers. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please We are currently in process of looking up more information on the previous dates and hookups. On 14 July 2014, it was announced that Ellis would once again rejoin the West End production of Wicked, replacing Willemijn Verkaik as Elphaba at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Kerrys life path number is 1. Her first role was in The Wizard of Oz when she was nine years old. Kerry Ellis; Kerry Ellis. Her performances at the Royal Albert Hall both sold out and later garnered her the 2012 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Solo Performance and a nomination for the 2011 BroadwayWorld.com UK Award for Theatrical Event of the Year (she lost to 25th anniversary celebrations of The Phantom of the Opera). [59] She was the second and final actress to play Nancy in the London revival, continuing the role until the end of the show's run on 8 January 2011. In June, Mark Shenton listed Ellis on his article about his "favourite leading musical ladies" in West End theatre, complimenting her for bringing "a different kind of pop passion to her voice that has stood her in good stead for [West End] shows. These concerts featured other performers from the West End and celebrate both classical and contemporary Broadway hits. "[8][11] Although she had not discovered her vocal ability until she was at college and had started working, Ellis cites her early influences as Liza Minnelli, Elaine Paige and Barbra Streisand; their music she would sing in her bedroom much to the disturbance of her older brother Andrew, now a keen fisherman. Kerry Ellis real name is Kerry Jane Ellis. By November 1999, she had made her first television appearance on Children in Need for their special Pudsey the Musical and was featured in a jingle for Capital FM. In the first quarter of 2014, Ellis performed in West End Anthems at the Watford Colosseum and also returned to 20th anniversary concert tour of RENT for dates across the UK in January and February. [27] Her performances at the Royal Albert Hall both sold out and later garnered her the 2012 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Solo Performance and a nomination for the 2011 BroadwayWorld.com UK Award for Theatrical Event of the Year (she lost to 25th anniversary celebrations of The Phantom of the Opera). Kerry Ellis at the London Palladium. From online or printed sources and from publicly accessible databases. Kerry worries about taking Alfie away from his father for extended periods but makes sure they get quality time when they are together. Alfies more travelled and got more stamps in his passport than I did at his age. Aside her professional endeavors, Ellis married her long-term boyfriend James Townsend on 8 September 2011 following their engagement in November 2010. Reports suggest Prince Charles will live "in a flat above the shop" when he becomes king. She has also paired with Craig Adams on his new musical Defect; she recorded a demo with Oliver Tompsett entitled "If Only You Could Know" for the musical in June. Ellis also performed the role of Mimi alongside Superstar finalist Rory Taylor in the 20th anniversary concert production of the musical RENT that toured the UK, opening on 25 April 2013 at The Opera House in Manchester before playing theatres in London, Liverpool, Newcastle, Cardiff, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Glasgow and Leeds. The following October, she led a week of solo concerts at the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square with a small band and a number of special guests in addition to singing at an event entitled A Night at the Musicals at the Wales Millennium Centre, part of the 2012 Cardiff Music Festival. Myrtle was born on February 12 1894. (PHOTOS)", "LIVE: THE VOICE Featuring Kerry Ellis Audition! She also provided vocals for "The Badger Swagger", a song with Brian May and Slash in support of Team Badger, a coalition of organisations teaming up to fight the planned cull of badgers in the UK, which was released on 3 June 2013, and also for a charity single with Viva! Ellis also embarked on her second headlining concert tour with Brian May, The Born Free Tour, performing dates in and around the home counties from 5 to 19 November. James Townsend's current age falls around his mid-30s, according to our close sources. Townsend, James C. [from old catalog]; Townsend, Martin Ingham, 1810-1903. News | Kerry Ellis Web", "Kerry Ellis returns to 20th anniversary concert tour of RENT! Due to the illnesses of both McCutcheon and first understudy Alexandra Jay during the production's run at both theatres, Ellis starred as Eliza Doolittle opposite Jonathan Pryce and Dennis Waterman; her West End debut saw her taking on the lead role with only three hours preparation. Its a wonderful experience and everyone makes such a fuss of him. She also performed with John Barrowman at the 2009 Henley Festival (which was later broadcast on BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night), at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and at Thank You for the Music a special concert in Hyde Park celebrating the music of Benny Andersson and Bjrn Ulvaeus (of ABBA) in September 2009 where "the unexpected highlight" of the evening was Ellis' delivery of the first UK performance of "You Have to Be There", a "tearjerker" from the pair's musical venture Kristina frn Duvemla. [20], By late 2000, she had settled in her first property, a two-bedroom Brockley maisonette, and joined the original cast of Cameron Mackintosh's London revival of My Fair Lady, appointed swing and second of two understudies to Martine McCutcheon in the role of Eliza Doolittle after being scouted by agent Jonathan Greatorex. James Townsend (Husband) 2011 Family. According to our records, she has no children. Award-winning theater actress and musician who has performed in classic shows like Oliver! Kerry Jane Ellis (born 6 May 1979) is an English actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music. She married James Townsend in 2011. After nine months traveling across the Caribbean, she left the ship in Los Angeles, spent three months travelling across the US until her visa ran out, and then returned to understudy in the UK concert tour. She has also worked sporadically in film and television. After attending Anthems: The Concert, critic Mark Shenton of The Stage hailed Ellis, a "small but fierce and fiery performer," as "this generation's Elaine Paige, with a similarly soaring, scorching voice." [75], In January 2012, Ellis auditioned for the debut series of The Voice UK, a reality television singing competition. When I have worked with Brian in the past, he has the luxury of having his own recording studio, so time was never an issue. She also appeared on select dates in the musical concert The West End Men led by Lee Mead at London's Vaudeville Theatre from 25 May to 22 June. Kerry Elliss income source is mostly from being a successful Actress. "Kerry [had] been in rehearsals throughout the run but she didn't find out until late afternoon that she was going on.